It's being reported by the BBC, a reliable source but doesn't mean it's confirmed.

"We used to pride ourselves on producing midfield artists in this country. Players like Tony Currie, Alan Hudson, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were just a few English playmakers developed in our clubs - players who could peel an orange with either foot but sadly no longer. What a pleasure then to see an artist at work even if he is a foreigner."

@Giggs' wrote:I am sure it was confirmed by Sky Sports News last night

Believe it when the club announces it.

"We used to pride ourselves on producing midfield artists in this country. Players like Tony Currie, Alan Hudson, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were just a few English playmakers developed in our clubs - players who could peel an orange with either foot but sadly no longer. What a pleasure then to see an artist at work even if he is a foreigner."

Of course it was good for the youngsters to get a chance from van Gaal, but if United want to previal like they once did, I think they should get themselves a squad with title aspirations that's able to compete in the CL. Mourinho is the right man to assemble such a squad if you ask me.

I've always thought it was an unfair judgement that Mourinho doesn't play youngsters... My memory often eludes me, but did he not win the title with the youngest average age starting 11 of any manager in PL history..

it's not that he doesn't play youngsters, it's that he doesn't bring through youth players. Someone like Rashford will be fine because he's already an established player in the first team. Out of the others, I'd say Fosu-Mensah and Jesse Lingard are the only ones who legitimately looked like they could be first teamers anyway.

chuckleberry finn wrote:it's not that he doesn't play youngsters, it's that he doesn't bring through youth players. Someone like Rashford will be fine because he's already an established player in the first team. Out of the others, I'd say Fosu-Mensah and Jesse Lingard are the only ones who legitimately looked like they could be first teamers anyway.

Borthwick-Jackson as well. I can honestly see Luke Shaw playing more up field as his career progresses. I see flashes of Bale in him and I reckon he can be a great winger in the future.

"We used to pride ourselves on producing midfield artists in this country. Players like Tony Currie, Alan Hudson, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were just a few English playmakers developed in our clubs - players who could peel an orange with either foot but sadly no longer. What a pleasure then to see an artist at work even if he is a foreigner."

He had the best academy in the world with Chelsea, they won 2 FA youth cups, the u21 premier league and u19 uefa youth league during his time at the club. Other then Loftus-Cheek (who he only used against league 1 teams) he didn't bring through a single player. And If they couldn't get a look in at Chelsea what hope do those kids at united have?

Sideways step. He's moved from a club that's too good to be relegated but not good enough to challenge for top 4 to a club that's too good to be relegated but not good enough to challenge for top 4. Personally I don't rate him that highly as a manager but Everton's academy is good and they will have a bit more pulling power than Southampton due to the Merseyside derby and the history of the club.

I can see De Boer being the new Southampton manager; Dutch, last managed in the Eredivise and won titles there, a reputable name and operates like Koeman (signs players on the cheap and utilizes the academy).

"We used to pride ourselves on producing midfield artists in this country. Players like Tony Currie, Alan Hudson, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were just a few English playmakers developed in our clubs - players who could peel an orange with either foot but sadly no longer. What a pleasure then to see an artist at work even if he is a foreigner."

@corn wrote:Sideways step. He's moved from a club that's too good to be relegated but not good enough to challenge for top 4 to a club that's too good to be relegated but not good enough to challenge for top 4. Personally I don't rate him that highly as a manager but Everton's academy is good and they will have a bit more pulling power than Southampton due to the Merseyside derby and the history of the club.

I can see De Boer being the new Southampton manager; Dutch, last managed in the Eredivise and won titles there, a reputable name and operates like Koeman (signs players on the cheap and utilizes the academy).

I reckon that Everton will challenge for top 4 because their new shareholder gave Koeman a £150 million pitty to buy players, it just depends who they buy now.

@Sugar Ray wrote:He had the best academy in the world with Chelsea, they won 2 FA youth cups, the u21 premier league and u19 uefa youth league during his time at the club. Other then Loftus-Cheek (who he only used against league 1 teams) he didn't bring through a single player. And If they couldn't get a look in at Chelsea what hope do those kids at united have?

He operates on a 'If they're good enough, they're old enough' mentality. He brought Varane to Madrid and gave him good playing time, he dropped Cech for Coutois who was and still is young for a goalkeeper, same with Hazard. At Inter he gave Santon, Biabany, Coutinho and Balotelli regular playing time as well. Chelsea's midfield were poor last season but what could Loftus-Cheek have done to improve the side? He rarely played under Hiddink either and he played Kenedy and Traore regularly.

"We used to pride ourselves on producing midfield artists in this country. Players like Tony Currie, Alan Hudson, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were just a few English playmakers developed in our clubs - players who could peel an orange with either foot but sadly no longer. What a pleasure then to see an artist at work even if he is a foreigner."

If de Boer actually goes to Southampton I hope he brings Bazoer / Tete / El Ghazi with him, seeing as Southampton youngsters develop and find a bigger club every year. Thing is they already have quite a few promising youngsters so they might get wasted on the bench :\